SUNDRE – Construction recently began on the future concrete foundation of a surface that will pave the way for a permanent outdoor rink and also be able to accommodate other uses during the off-season.
A crew from Innisfail-based Malcolm Contracting was out on Tuesday, Sept. 26 excavating some top soil from a site immediately adjacent and to the west of the Sundre Skatepark across the street from Sundre High School along Second Avenue NW.
Formerly the location of a temporary outdoor rink, the grassy area is now destined to become a concrete pad to accommodate a more proper and permanent outdoor rink complete with official boards.
Randy Malcolm, the outfit’s owner, said he anticipated his crew would be done by the end of last week, with pouring and forming concrete expected to happen this week.
At an overall cost of about $362,000, the completed project's scope will include the placement of concrete slabs, dasher boards, goals, lighting, as well as gravel parking, Benazir Thaha Valencia, the municipality’s senior development officer, wrote by email in response to follow-up questions.
The approximate timeline for the construction period, which depends on conditions, is roughly November to December, she said.
The new rink will be used for skating throughout the winter months, while the concrete foundation will enable other activities during the off-season, she said.
Meanwhile, the former modular outdoor rink that had smaller, removable plastic boards that the town crew would set up in the fall ahead of the skating season and then remove come the spring, is now instead being installed at the Royal Purple Park in Sundre’s northeast subdivision along the 8th Avenue loop, said Sue Nelson, the municipality's community services manager.
Depending on conditions, Nelson said the goal is to have both of the outdoor rinks ready in time for the 2023-24 skating season.
As work continues on preparing the outdoor rinks, municipal officials ask residents to exercise caution when near the sites.
